The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has made significant recoveries in connection with the multi-crore mobile gaming app fraud, E-Nuggets. Cash amounting to ₹1.6 crore and bitcoins worth ₹7 crore were retrieved from the residence of Rumen Agarwal, a close associate of the mastermind behind the scam, Amir Khan. The recovery operation took place at Ultadanga in Kolkata during the late hours of Wednesday.

Custody and Seizure

Rumen Agarwal has been apprehended by the ED sleuths following the recovery, which also involved the seizure of diaries and a laptop from his residence. Umesh Agarwal, another individual implicated in the conspiracy, remains at large.

Sources from the ED revealed that the seized laptop and diaries contain crucial information regarding various contacts believed to be involved in the fraudulent activities orchestrated by Amir Khan and his associates.

Total Seizure Amount

The recent recovery by the ED, coupled with previous seizures conducted by both the ED and Kolkata Police, has escalated the total seizure amount to ₹141.47 crore. This substantial sum underscores the magnitude of the fraud investigation.

Background of the Investigation

The investigation into the E-Nuggets fraud commenced on September 10, with the ED uncovering ₹17.32 crore from the residence of Nasr Khan, the father of prime accused Amir Khan, in Shahi Astabal Lane, Garden Reach area of south Kolkata. At that time, Amir Khan was evading arrest.

Subsequently, Kolkata Police apprehended Amir Khan in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and also arrested five of his associates. Another key figure, Subhojeet Srimani, remains absconding, with authorities suspecting his presence in Dubai. A lookout notice has been issued against Srimani by the city police.

Modus Operandi of E-Nuggets Fraud

Amir Khan launched the mobile gaming application E-Nuggets as a platform for defrauding the public. Initially, users were enticed with commission rewards and seamless withdrawal options from their app wallets. This led to increased investments from users seeking higher returns. However, the sudden cessation of withdrawals and deletion of all user data from the app server left investors empty-handed, marking the culmination of the fraudulent scheme.